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Mood Indigo
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra Lyrics
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You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
I always get that mood indigo,
Since my baby said goodbye.
I'm so lonely I could cry.
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
When I get that mood indigo,
I could lay me down and die.
You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You ain't never been blue,
Till you've had that mood indigo.
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra's song Mood Indigo is a poignant exploration of the depth of sadness and loneliness. The lyrics serve as a warning that true sadness cannot be understood until it has been experienced. The opening lines repeat the phrase "You ain't never been blue," emphasizing that the singer believes that no one can truly understand the depth of misery until they have felt it themselves. The use of repetition emphasizes the singer's frustration with those who cannot comprehend their pain.
The song's title, "Mood Indigo," refers to a blue tone that symbolizes a feeling of melancholy. The use of the word "indigo" highlights the depth of the singer's sadness. The lyrics describe a feeling that "go[es] stealin' down to my shoes." This description highlights the pervasiveness of the sadness the singer feels. Notably, the singer acknowledges that even when the lights are low and no one is around, they still feel lonely enough to cry. The song's final lines serve as a warning to listeners. The singer's depth of sadness is such that they could "lay me down and die."
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't never been blue; no, no, no,
You have never truly experienced sadness.
You ain't never been blue,
You have never experienced deep sadness.
Till you've had that mood indigo.
Until you have experienced a specific type of sadness called 'mood indigo.'
That feelin' goes stealin' down to my shoes
The feeling of sadness is so heavy that it seems to weigh down every inch of my body.
While I just sit here and sigh, "Go 'long blues".
As the sadness overtakes me, all I can do is sit and let out a long sigh of sadness.
I always get that mood indigo,
I frequently experience that specific type of sadness known as 'mood indigo.'
Since my baby said goodbye.
Ever since my loved one left me.
And in the evenin' when the lights are low,
Especially at night, when the world has grown dark and quiet.
I'm so lonely I could cry.
I am filled with so much sadness and loneliness that I feel like crying.
'Cause there's nobody who cares about me,
Because I don't have anyone in my life who truly cares for me.
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be.
I am foolishly sad, sadder than anyone could imagine.
When I get that mood indigo,
When I feel that specific type of sadness called 'mood indigo.'
I could lay me down and die.
The sadness is so overwhelming that it feels like it would be easier to simply give up and die.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Barney Bigard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind